Wednesday, March 27, 2013

02/08/2013:
Sgt. Tim Tabbutt responded to a call regarding theft of money from a bank account through a debit card purchase. The bank was contacted, and the victim’s account was closed and the money refunded. The items fraudulently purchased included concert tickets, which would be invalid when the ticketholder attempted to use them. Because the theft occurred outside the state, the victim was directed to the Attorney General’s Office for Identity Theft.

Sgt. Tim Tabbutt, with assistance from Deputy Dennis Perry, responded to a report from Hancock County Deputy Shane Campbell of a vehicle fire on Route 9. The owner, a Washington County resident, was contacted. No injuries were reported.

Deputy John Peterson responded to a single-vehicle accident on Route 1 in Whiting. No injuries were reported and the site was cleared without incident.

02/10/2013:
A report of break-in at a commercial property in Jonesboro was investigated by Sgt. Tim Tabbutt. Upon speaking to the employee who called in the complaint, it was determined that nothing had been taken from the site. Sgt. Tabbutt advised the employee regarding additional security for the facility.

02/11/2013:
Sgt. Tim Tabbutt investigated a single-vehicle accident on Route 192. The driver, who arrived at the DECH Emergency Room to be evaluated for injuries, was found to have a suspended license and to be in possible violation of probation. Investigation was turned over to the probation officer. The passenger of the vehicle was not injured.

Lt. Travis Willey responded to a single-vehicle accident on Route 1 in Whiting. The vehicle struck a guard rail, but no injuries were reported.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Unfortunately, calls for service related to domestic violence issues continue to be a weekly occurrence for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. We are proud, however, to have a strong partnership with The Next Step Domestic Violence Project. While we welcome all calls concerning domestic violence, we also encourage anyone to call The Next Step at 255-4785 or 454-8088.

03/02/2013:
Deputy Ryan Allen responded to a potential domestic violence situation in Machiasport. Upon arrival, he discovered that it was in fact a civil dispute. Allen spoke with both parties who agreed to separate peacefully.

Sgt. Randy Perry responded to a call for service regarding a couple having a domestic dispute in a public parking lot in Columbia. Perry talked with both parties, who declined to press charges. It was agreed that the couple should separate for the night.

Deputy Dennis Perry responded to a call from an individual in Milbridge who wanted to talk to an officer regarding his safety. When Perry arrived, he found the caller to be extremely intoxicated. The other parties involved were not found to be in the area.

Deputy Dennis Perry investigated a call regarding a driver operating erratically on Route 9 in Devereaux Twp. Perry located and stopped the vehicle. Upon investigation, Perry determined that the driver was fatigued from a long trip. Perry suggested the driver pull over in the T30 rest area to rest, which he did.

Cpl. Ralph Pineo investigated a suspicious vehicle parked at a vacant residence on the South Edmunds Road. It was determined that the vehicle belonged to someone who was harvesting shellfish.

03/03/2013:
Deputy Dennis Perry, assisted by Sgt. Randy Perry, responded to a call regarding two individuals who were apparently under the influence of illegal substances, reported to be bath salts. The two individuals were transported by family members to the hospital before Deputy Perry arrived on scene.

Sgt. Randy Perry responded to a call regarding a potentially intoxicated individual who was putting gas in his vehicle at a convenience store in Jonesport. Upon arrival at the scene, Perry found the driver to be intoxicated past the point of being able to participate in a sobriety test. The individual agreed to accompany Perry to the Milbridge Police Department for an Intoxylizer test. Officer Bradon Parker of the Milbridge Police Department administered the test, which showed the subject to be over the legal limit. The subject was arrested and transported to the Washington County Jail.

03/04/2013:
Sgt. Randy Perry responded to a report of possible theft from a commercial fishery in Beals. The investigation is on-going.

Sgt. Randy Perry spotted an individual whose license had been recently suspended operating a vehicle on the Addison Road in Columbia. Perry arrested the individual for operating after suspension and transported him to the Washington County Jail.

Cpl. Ralph Pineo responded to the scene of an accident on Route 9 in Crawford. Several vehicles, including two tractor-trailers, were unable to navigate a hill because of poor road conditions. MDOT responded and cleared the roads. No injuries or vehicle damage was reported.

03/05/2013:
Deputy Adam Davis responded to a single-vehicle accident on Route 1 in Whiting. The passenger reported injuries, and an ambulance was called.

Cpl. Brandon Parker responded to a request for civil assist in Machiasport. The individuals involved had questions about personal belongings and the protection order process.

03/06/2013:
Sgt. Tim Tabbutt responded to a call in Cherryfield regarding a possible theft from an unoccupied home. Tabbutt investigated and found nothing had been disturbed.

Friday, March 15, 2013

The Sheriff’s Office has recently responded to an increased number of incidents involving potential suicide. If you, or someone you know, would like to talk to anyone during a time of great emotional stress, the number for the crisis helpline is 1-888-568-1112.

02/22/2013:
Jail Administrator Cpt. Rich Rolfe saw a satisfying finish to his first week on the job. Rolfe states that he is working with a great crew and is eager to dig deeper into his role.

Sgt. Randy Perry responded to a call for a potential assault in Jonesport. The caller declined to press charges, but Perry spoke to both parties and cautioned them to stay away from each other.

Deputy Ryan Allen, assisted by Sgt. Randy Perry, answered a call for a potential suicide in Jonesport. The subject was found to be calm and was transported to the hospital by ambulance. The weapon of which the subject had been in possession could not be found, so K-9 Dozer was deployed. He found the weapon, which was seized by Perry.

02/23/2013:
Deputy John Peterson responded to a call regarding a violation of a protection order and violation of bail conditions. It was confirmed that the subject was making harassing phone calls to the victim. With assistance from Deputy Shane Campbell from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, the subject was summonsed for Violation of Protection Order and Violation of Bail.

Cpl. Ralph Pineo performed a welfare and health check on an individual in Whiting. Friends had requested a check be done as they were concerned the individual seemed potentially self-harming. Pineo visited with the individual and found no cause for further concern.

02/24/2013:
Sgt. Randy Perry responded to a report of vehicle theft in Milbridge. The vehicle was not present when Perry arrived on the scene. During the course of the investigation, Perry found the vehicle in question off a road. He questioned the owner who admitted that she had an accident and didn’t know how to report it. The owner was charged with failing to report a property damage accident by the quickest means.

02/25/2013:
Deputy John Peterson served a protection order to an individual at his home in Danforth. The individual was cooperative. While at the residence, Peterson found and seized marijuana paraphernalia which was logged into evidence at the Sheriff’s Office.

02/26/2013:
Deputy John Peterson responded to a potential criminal trespass complaint in Grand Lake Stream. Once it was determined that the subject did not have a right to be on the premises, Peterson attempted to remove him. However, by the time Peterson arrived at the property, the individual was gone. Peterson has subsequently served the individual with a Criminal Trespass Warning.

02/28/2013:
Sgt. Randy Perry responded to a single-vehicle accident on Route 182 in Cherryfield. No injuries were reported. The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind all drivers that, even though road conditions are improving as the weather warms up, black ice can still be present. Please drive carefully.

Friday, March 1, 2013

The Sheriff’s Office has responded to several single-vehicle accidents over the past week. Most have been due to poor road conditions. We would like to remind operators to drive with caution and to stay off bad roads unless absolutely necessary.

The number of 9-1-1 calls from “pocket dials”, children playing with the phone, and mis-dials has increased significantly over the past few weeks. The Sheriff’s Office encourages teaching children the importance of knowing how, and when, to dial 9-1-1.

02/15/2013:
Chief Deputy Shawn Donahue completed a successful first-week on the job. He says he is looking-forward to getting things caught-up.

Sgt. Tim Tabbutt responded to a possible theft of a chain saw from an ice fishing camp in Columbia Falls. Tabbutt questioned suspects. Investigation is on-going.

Sgt. Tim Tabbutt and Cpl. Ralph Pineo responded to a potential domestic violence situation in Deblois. The parties had separated by the time Tabbutt and Pineo reached the scene and no charges were filed. One of the parties was escorted into the home to collect some personal belongings.

02/16/213:
Sgt. Rich Rolfe responded to an in-progress domestic dispute in East Machias. Upon arrival, Rolfe interviewed both parties and found that the victim had been threatened with a pair of scissors. The second party was arrested for domestic criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon.

02/17/2013:
A domestic violence assault was investigated by Cpl. Brandon Parker and Lt. Travis Willey in Harrington. The victim and witnesses were interviewed. The assailant was taken into custody and summonsed for domestic violence assault and domestic criminal mischief.

02/19/2013:
Deputy Travis Oakes responded to a possible domestic assault in Machiasport. The parties separated and no charges were pressed.

02/20/2013:
Encouraged by items found during a probation check in Addison, Lt. Travis Willey, with assistance from canine Stryker and handler Sgt. Rich Rolfe, Special Agent Troy Biers of MDEA, Cpl. Brandon Parker, Sgt. Randy Perry, and Chief Deputy Shawn Donahue arrested a suspect for possession of heroin. A second suspect at the home was also arrested for trafficking of heroin.

02/21/2013:
Cpl. Ralph Pineo responded to a domestic assault complaint in Cherryfield. The suspect was arrested and transported to jail by Lt. Travis Willey.

02/06/13: Sheriff Smith was appointed to the Domestic Violence Committee of the National Sheriff’s Association.

02/15/13: Sgt. Rich Rolfe was prompted to Capt. in the correction division.
Cpt. Rolfe was a patrol Sgt. and is now the jail administrator.

02/22/13: The Washington County Board of Visitors met for the February Monthly Meeting.

02/28/13: The Civil Division handled 85 papers of civil process in the month of February.

02/28/13: The average inmate count for the month of February was 36.

02/28/13: The Sheriff’s Patrol Division handled 292 Calls for Service from February 1, 2013 through February 28, 2013. The Patrol Division continues to make great progress working toward a new Records Management System(RMS), Computer Aided Dispatch(CAD) software for the Sheriff's Office. The new software will benefit all law enforcement agencies in Washington County. The Project is the result of eight months of hard work by the Washington County Emergency Management Agency, the Washington County Regional Communication Center and the Patrol Division. I am happy to report the new system/software could be in place and operational by May 2013.